SO much for the fear that Manchester United had become a one-man goal machine!

The Reds' reliance on Ruud van Nistelrooy had become alarming for a side famed for sharing out their scoring duties.

Last term when the Dutchman's tank ran dry United spluttered to a halt in Europe and Premiership.

United have been praying something disastrous to happen to van Nistelrooy's form or fitness this time, because the stats from the last few months didn't make comforting reading.

Since Paul Scholes equalled a career best campaign haul of 14 goals on January 22, following a six-game scoring sequence, he's been stuck on that figure.

David Beckham landed just a single strike. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hit three and Diego Forlan has offered no back up.

The defenders only weighed in with three goals and the Roy Keane/Nicky Butt axis had been impotent.

Only Ryan Giggs, despite having his Old Trafford future placed in doubt, provided a solid contribution with six goals.

In the meantime van Nistelrooy was plundering 14 goals for the Reds.

Lost touch

When his personal Bernabeu performance stood alone in comparison to Real Madrid's majestic display and earned Sir Alex Ferguson's lavish praise the suspicion grew that United now had their killer touch resting squarely on the 26-year-old's shoulders.

But that theory was well and truly blown to smithereens with the Reds 5-1 up after 52 minutes at St James' Park and the Dutchman's name was conspicuous by its absence on the score sheet.

That against a side who, alongside United, had the meanest defence at home in the Premiership having only conceded 10 in league matches this term in front of their own fans.

Going into the showdown with Arsenal at Highbury United's awesome display of firepower couldn't have been better timed.

And what a remarkable response to the lesson they had to endure in Madrid.

United's ability to learnand respond to them swiftly has been a feature of their glory years. And their efficiency at hitting back no matter how severe the bruising to egos has also put them streets ahead.

Both those talents were never more emphasised than in the North East on Saturday.

Perfect riposte

How many other teams could have responded to the sobering Spanish experience in the way the Reds did?

Arsenal would be inhuman not to have been affected by it. And even superhuman Real Madrid must know they are going to have a battle at Old Trafford next Tuesday.

Fergie had been mystified why Scholes' goals had dried up. I don't know whether the Reds boss had read the local morning Newcastle paper over his breakfast on Saturday but judging by the way the little midfielder laid into the Geordies it looked suspiciously like he'd had a peek.

The paper suggested that Scholes was washed up and it was time England coach Sven Goran Eriksson eased him out of his line-up and let Newcastle favourite Kieron Dyer take his place!

The author of that preposterous suggestion was no doubt looking somewhat sheepish at 1.37pm on Saturday as Scholes laid claim to the match ball.

Newcastle boss Sir Bobby Robson couldn't decide whether his side were very poor or United were very good.

Well, the chicken and egg conundrum seemed obvious to me. Sir Bobby's defence didn't initially give the impression that they were a hopelessly disorientated bunch.

They only became that when United got amongst them.

It took half an hour for United to shake off the Bernabeu blues, by which time Jermaine Jenas had struck a 25-yard strike to put Newcastle ahead.

Arsenal, holed up in Cheshire before their Old Trafford FA Cup semi final, must have been loving it.

But United swung into action. Solskjaer hooked in a trademark volley, Scholes claimed a ruthless hat trick, the unstoppable Giggs slotted home - with his right foot, no less - and the ubiquitous van Nistelrooy added another penalty to his collection.

Arsene Wenger would have been switching off the TV sets to avoid depressing his side ahead of Wednesday's showdown.